Man accused of shooting rifle in the air
A Uniontown man was denied bond after allegedly shooting a rifle in the air while wearing body armor.
Austin McCurley, 41, faces charges of aggravated assault, unlawful body armor and reckless endangerment, and two counts of simple assault.
According to court paperwork, a witness saw McCurley arguing with two people in the area of Cleveland Avenue and Evans Street around 6 a.m. Saturday. The witness reportedly told police he approached McCurley, and McCurley fired a shotgun in the air.
Police said the witness told them what McCurley’s home looked like, and they found him outside of his home. McCurley refused to stop coming toward officers, court paperwork said. They used a Taser on him twice, but it had no effect, police said. Officers then used physical force to stop him and saw he had on body armor with steel plates in the inserts, according to the complaint.
McCurley reportedly admitted to firing the shotgun, telling police he was defending himself because people were coming after him with rifles. Police looked through a shut glass storm door and saw the gun on a bed inside of McCurley’s home, according to the complaint.
District Judge Jason Cox committed McCurley to Fayette County jail without bond. His preliminary hearing is next month.